Provençal postcards, Pinterest boards and Instagram are filled with photos of sunny sunflowers. Long before the Internet these beautiful flowers inspired Vincent Van Gogh to paint a still life series called Tournesols (Sunflowers). He painted the first of the group in 1887, in Paris, and then later (1888-89) in Arles.
Category Archives: Provence
Visit Beaucaire for Visions of a Different Time in Provence
Beaucaire is a small Provencal town located on the banks of the Rhone river and the Rhone-Sète canal, the name means beautiful stone. There is evidence of a Gallo-Roman settlement in this hilly area as early as 11 B.C.. The ancient community gave way to a medieval town in 1067 and the establishment of a castle in 1180.
Why you Need Patience at the Sous Préfecture in Provence
Nutmeg is self-admittedly not a patient person. She develops a plan, does not appreciate too much external input, and certainly is not thrilled when there is a proposed change. Living in France, with life at a slower pace, has helped with her natural inclination somewhat. Although, Ginger is certain that she may never be fully cured of her affliction.
Here, are some verbal “pictures” of life in slow motion:
- Walks with a 12 year old yellow lab
- Sunday morning coffee service at the village café
- Opening hours/days for the local boulangerie and boucherie
- Watching a dog sleep in the sun
- WiFi access in a thunderstorm
- A swimming pool warmed only by the sun
- Waiting for your tax refund
This post is about the ultimate lesson in patience, a heavy dose of bureaucracy, mountains of paperwork and long queues. Welcome to the world of the sous-préfectures (home of French Administration)! Nutmeg has had the pleasure of visiting a couple of these offices while in Provence, the location in Aix-en-Provence and equally attractive Arles office.
Isle sur la Sorgue a touch of Venice in Provence
Most people (read tourists) go to l’Isle sur la Sorgue for one of two reasons:
- The Sunday market – one of the largest in the region
- The 300+ antique stores and dealers
Very few would go because they were expecting Venice in Provence.
Dipping A Toe in France’s Ardeche
This post will most likely make Nutmeg’s Corsican friends angry.
Why bother with the hassle of an overnight ferry, crowded beaches and small twisty roads? If you want to feel like you, have experienced a bit of Corsica without leaving the French mainland, plan a trip to the Ardèche region.
The similarities between, the beautiful island of Corsica and the Ardèche are significant, see below:
Corsica | Ardeche | |
| Surface Area | 8,680 sq km | 5,550 sq km |
| Widest Point | 82 km | 75 km |
| Highest Peak | 2,706 metres Mont Cinto | 1,754 metres Mont Mézenc |
| Population | 302,000 | 309,000 |
| Annual Visitors | Roughly 2 million | Roughly 3 million |
| Agriculture | Chestnuts | Chestnuts |
| Olives | Olives | |
| Grapes | Grapes | |
| Goats, Sheep | Goat, Sheep, Cows | |
| Figs | Figs | |
| Beaches | 1000 km of coastline | Countless River banks |
| Geographic Formation | Volcanic | Volcanic |
Sunday Lunch in France
Nutmeg is writing this post on a rainy Sunday afternoon while Ginger is napping off the effects of a long Sunday lunch.
It is a long tradition in France that stores are closed Sunday afternoon, allowing everyone the opportunity to have a leisurely lunch en famille.
Juicy Gold the Cavaillon Melons of Provence
Nutmeg barely tolerates melons, in her opinion, the green honeydew version found in airport “fruit salads” should be outlawed. Watermelon and its variations without seeds or in ghastly yellow only belong on a picnic table with many children around.
The Fortress of Aigues Mortes in Provence
800km from its glacial source in Valais, Switzerland the Rhône River gasps as it reaches the Mediterranean Sea. Like a wide yawn the Rhône’s two branches; the Grande Rhône and the Petit Rhône empty their cargo at the mouth of the river. This area of Provence known as the Camargue, part of the Bouches du Rhône (mouths of the Rhône) is Europe’s largest river delta (930 sq km) and a wetland of significant size.
Exclusive Interview Bliss Travels Wendy Jaeger
American-born Wendy Jaeger admits that France is in her soul. The founder of Bliss Travels met with Nutmeg for coffee, in the Luberon, to chat about the company’s culinary and wine vacations.
Squeaky Clean Savon de Marseille
A mixture of seawater, alkaline solution and fat
Documented use as far back as 2800 BC in Ancient Babylon
A carved “recipe” found on a stone slab from 2200 BC
The Egyptians, Greeks and Romans all used it
Cooked for 8 days in a cauldron, dried for 2 days in a mould
Latin word Sapo
